Making A Difference Occupational Therapy

24/04/2026

🌟 Meet Annette! 🌟
We’re so excited to officially welcome Annette to the MADOT team as our Learning Support Specialist (Allied Health Assistant), supporting our holiday programs and learning interventions.

Annette brings a wealth of experience in education and disability support, with over 10 years working in special education and supporting children with additional needs including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Dyslexia, Anxiety, Intellectual Impairment, and Learning Delays. She also brings strong expertise in literacy development, having spent the past 7 years working as an English teacher supporting ESL students at TAFE Queensland.

Annette is passionate about helping children feel successful in their learning, with a strong focus on building confidence in reading, writing, and foundational literacy skills in a structured and supportive way.

In her role at MADOT, Annette works under the direction and supervision of our Occupational Therapist, delivering therapist-designed programs that support children to build confidence and skills through targeted, engaging learning activities.

Outside of work, Annette is a proud Mum of two adult children and a very loved Nanna to three beautiful grandchildren who keep her very busy!

We feel very lucky to have Annette supporting our families and bringing her warmth, experience, and fun-loving presence to the MADOT team 💛

👀 STAY TUNED: Literacy Support Workshops Coming Soon!! 🤩

19/03/2026

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking…
“Maybe they’ll grow out of it.”
“Am I overreacting?”
“The teacher mentioned something…”
“Why does this seem so much harder for them?”

You’re not alone.

It might be worth exploring OT support if your child:
• Struggles with dressing, buttons, zips or toileting beyond what’s expected for their age
• Avoids drawing, colouring or handwriting tasks
• Tires quickly with fine motor tasks
• Finds playground equipment challenging
• Has frequent big emotional reactions that are hard to recover from
• Seems overwhelmed by noise, clothing textures or busy environments
• Has difficulty following multi-step instructions
• Struggles to start or finish tasks independently

One or two of these occasionally? That’s part of development. But if challenges are:
• Persistent
• Causing frustration or distress
• Impacting school or daily life
• Affecting confidence
Early support can make a big difference.

Seeking support isn’t about labelling your child. It’s about understanding them - and giving them the tools to feel capable and confident. And sometimes, even just having reassurance is enough!

Contact us today to find out how we can help your child thrive!

12/03/2026

“Empowering children to thrive” isn’t just a tagline - it’s at the heart of everything we do.

If your child is finding everyday tasks harder than expected, you’re not alone.

Maybe getting dressed feels overwhelming.
Maybe handwriting is a battle.
Maybe big emotions take over.
Maybe the playground feels tricky.

Paediatric OT looks at the whole child - their body, brain, emotions and environment - to understand why things feel hard and how we can help.

We support children to build the skills they need for everyday life - in ways that feel achievable, meaningful and strengths-based.

Every child is different. Every goal is individual. And therapy is always built around your child’s unique strengths.

Our goal isn’t perfection.
It’s confidence. Independence. Participation.

Because when children feel capable, confident and understood - that’s when they truly thrive.

Find out more: www.makingadifferenceot.com.au

Or contact us today: 0434 138 006 or admin@makingadifferenceot.com.au

06/03/2026

A wonderful afternoon celebrating International Women’s Day with so many inspiring women in our community.

Thank you to Mick de Brenni for the invitation and for supporting The Centre for Women & Co. It was a pleasure to connect with local leaders, volunteers and business owners who are all making a difference.

We’re proud to be part of such a strong and supportive community 💚

We are celebrating International Women’s Day and kicking off the festivities with a fundraiser for the The Centre For Women & Co.

From local leaders and volunteers to business owners and mentors, the women in our community make a difference every single day, so it's special to share some time with them today.

Thank you for the role you all play in making our community such a great place to live.

Councillor Mindy Russell Chatswood Hills Florist at Springwood-QLD Inna Essence Norma May Honey Sport Inclusion Australia Making A Difference Occupational Therapy LECNA Rev’e Coffee Hub

20/02/2026

Recently, we refreshed our paediatric first aid training with .a.firstaid.⛑️

As OTs working with children every day, staying up to date with infant and child CPR is something we take seriously.

While we hope we never need to use these skills, being prepared is part of creating safe, supportive spaces for the families we work with 💛

Continuous learning is a big part of our culture — for both senior clinicians and new grads.

Thank you LA First Aid for such a comprehensive and practical learning experience.

17/02/2026

When allied health professionals sit around the same table, good things happen 🤩🙌

So proud to attend the Get Readii Group Connect event last week alongside our newest OT! It was great to demonstrate that our paediatric OT service isn’t just about what happens in the clinic, it’s about strong community connections.

As our team grows, so does our commitment to connection, mentorship and learning. Collaboration strengthens our practice, our team, and ultimately the outcomes for the kids we work with.

Thank you for hosting us - We loved connecting with others who are just as passionate about supporting children and families as we are.

16/12/2025

☀️🎄HOLIDAY CLOSURE NOTICE🎄☀️

MADOT will be taking a short break from 22nd December - 4th January.

Thank you to our amazing families for such a wonderful year - we can’t wait to see you all again in 2026!

Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and sunshine-filled Christmas! 🌴☀️🎄

See you in the new year! 🎉

08/12/2025

🌟Meet Lucinda! 🌟

Lucinda first joined Making A Difference OT as a student on placement in January this year, and we’re so excited that she’s now part of our team.

Lucinda has been working part-time with us as an Allied Health Assistant while she completed her final weeks of her OT degree, and will be joining us as a full-time occupational therapist in 2026!

Lucinda often refers to herself as being a giant kid, just trapped inside an adult’s body! She’s full of energy, laughter, and all-round fun!

Outside of work you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the sunshine!

We feel very lucky to have Lucinda supporting our families and growing with us at Making A Difference OT! 🦋

01/12/2025

🌟Meet the face behind Making A Difference OT🌟

I’m Zoie – Paediatric occupational therapist and owner of Making A Difference Occupational Therapy (MADOT).

Since MADOT came to life in 2020, I’ve been the sole OT in the service, supporting kids and families across Logan and surrounds through home, school, daycare, community, and now clinic-based sessions located in Springwood.

I love helping ALL kids feel confident, capable, and understood! Though I do have a special interest in helping kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, and Anxiety Disorders.

Outside of being an OT, you’ll usually find me at the beach, playing boardgames with friends, or spending time with my (many!) nieces and nephews!

I’m so thankful for the families who’ve been part of this journey so far, and I can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the team soon!

20/11/2025

It’s been a while… 👋🏼

Things have been busy behind the scenes at Making A Difference OT, and we’re excited to start sharing more of what we’ve been up to!

This year we opened up our very own clinic space in Springwood, QLD!

We’re still out and about in the community as well (home, school, and daycare visits are all here to stay!) but now we also have a calm, safe, playful space where your kids can come to us!

This space has already seen so much play, progress and giggles, and we look forward to sharing little glimpses of life in the clinic, OT ideas, and the everyday wins we get to celebrate with our families!

Stay tuned - we can’t wait to introduce you to our team.

If you’re new here, welcome! If you’ve been here for a while (or even from the beginning), thanks for sticking around 🖤💚🤍

📍Shop 1, 71-73 Springwood Road, Springwood, QLD, Australia!
Service: Paediatric Occupatioanl Therapy

27/05/2025

🎉We’ve Been Nominated! 🎉

I’m so excited (and incredibly humbled!) to share that Making A Difference OT has been nominated for the Local Business Awards!

Being recognised in this way means the world to us - and it’s all thanks to the amazing families we’ve had the privilege of working with over the years! 💚🖤🤍

If you feel we’ve made a difference in your child’s life, we’d be so grateful if you could take a moment to vote. Every vote helps us get one step closer to celebrating this achievement with our beautiful community!

Voting is now OPEN and closes 8th of July!
Click here to vote for us: https://thebusinessawards.com.au/81803/making-a-difference-occupational-therapy

Thank you for all of your support - past, present, and ongoing. I truly couldn’t do this without all of you! 💫

The Local Business Awards - Recognising and celebrating the best in Local Businesses

04/10/2023

Check out this wonderful business called Little Superheroes, offering paediatric touch and massage therapy to children with additional needs. 
 
Jess, the founder of Little Superheroes, is not only an incredible massage and touch therapist with an extensive clinical background, but she also shares a personal connection to the journey many of you are on.  As a mother of a beautiful child with diverse needs, Jess is fuelled by passion to make a positive difference in the lives of children facing challenges such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, ASD, ADHD, Achondroplasia, Torticollis, and Spina Bifida.   Jess understands first-hand, the unique challenges that come with raising remarkable children like yours and understands the importance and benefits of specialised care and support.
 
Jess has created a specialised paediatric touch therapy and massage service that has been carefully designed to nurture your child’s unique strengths and address their individual needs.  Little Superheroes is committed to a holistic approach to therapy, one that values the importance of touch, communication, and empathy in a child’s development. 
 
To learn more about Little Superheroes’ services and how touch and massage therapy can help your little one, please reach out to Jess via phone: 0410 053 611 or email: admin@littlesuperheroes.com.au and she will gladly answer any questions you may have!